Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-03
condition powders, he convicts himself
of bad management of his horses.
Kerry Cattle.

/ 6tlIdl view 1uTkeI
Kerry cattle are undoubtedly an abor.
iginal breed, and the only Irish breed
that still exists in the island in its pris-
tine purity. All the other Irish breeds
have disappeared under frequent crosses
of Herefords, Devons, and especially
shorthorns. Indeed, the general charac-
ter Of Irish dairy cattle to-day is as strong
~ shorthorn as in the northern and mid
land counties in England, and the more
clearly shorthorn the COWS are the high
er they are priced in the larger diaries.
The Kerry cow is, and for generations
has been, the poor mans COW, the cot
tiers COW, the COW for the man who can
afford to keep only one, and has seanty
feed for even that.
As in Youatt's days it can live anywhere
and everywhere, and yield for its size, a
large quantity of milk of excellent quail
ty. About twelve quarts daily is an aver
age yield for Kerry COW when she is
fairly well kept, and some yield sixteen
quarts daily for considerable time after
calving.
The yield of butter is one pound for
eleven quarts of milk; but often a higher
percentage of butter is obtained. The
following is the measurement of fat
Kerry COW of the largest strain, exhibited
at late show of the Royal Dublin Socie-
ty:
In height at the shoulder, thirty eight
inches; girth, seventy inches; length from
the top of the shoulder to the tail-head,
forty two inches.
In form the Kerry cow is headlight
made animal with fine, rather long limbs;
small head with long, clean muzzle and
thin lips: lively eyes, fine white horns,
belonging to the middle class and turning
upwards. The neck is not massive at its
junction with the head, but thickens
gradually. The rump is narrow and the
thigh light. The fashionable color is
black; but some are black and white and
others red. Although the hair is thick
the hide is elastic and mellow, and the
handles" ,wen. The Dexter" strain of
variety differs from the ordinary Kerry
IN having round, plump body, short
and thick legs a heavier and coarser
head and larger and straighter horns.
Kerry COWS are extremely hardy; and
although very active, they are very gen
tie and do well when tethered on confined
bits of grass. Although in their natural
condition they have picked up scanty
livelihood for generations on thin, hilly,
pastures, they generously pay for good
feed, and thrive well when kept constant
ly house fed. Attempts have been made
to cross the Kerry with the kindred West
Highland breed, the Devon, Ayrshire and
Hoistein, but the results have not been
satisfactory, but when a Kerry cow is put
! to good shOrthorn bull, the produce
possess great aptitude to fatten, with su-
perior quality of flesh, and great weight
of carcass. Youatt says Kerry COWS fat
ten rapidly when required, and this is
| true when they have been kept, like other
breeds, on fair pasture; but poor Kerries
especially bullocks, when obtained direct
| ly from their native mountain pastures
take some time before they begin to
show improvement. But once they be-
gin their progress is rapid, and when
slaughtered their flesh is of prime quail
ty-fne in the grain and we'll favored
Their weights when fat are from 300 to
500 pounds, though extra fed beasts will
! turn the scales at $50 pounds.
In the mountain districts Of Ireland
| where heland is poor and cold, and the
| heritage scaEt the Kerry is and must 70
| main, the best breed, and in richer dis
tricts also she has lately been introduced
not for fancy purposes, but for her genu
| Inc merits in the dairy. Several small
importations have been made to this
country, and doubtless the Kerry COW
| would be quite profitable in sections
where the conditions are similar to those
| In which she is profitable in her native
country.